Attenuated swine influenza vaccines and methods of making and use thereof

ABSTRACT

This disclosure provides attenuated swine influenza strains, particularly those produced via a reverse genetics approach, compositions comprising same, and methods of production and use thereof. The attenuated strains are engineered to encode HA proteins having additional glycosylation sites, relative to the HA proteins encoded by the corresponding virulent parental viruses. Advantageously, the attenuated influenza strains may be administered.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

This application claims priority to provisional application U.S. Ser. No. 61/672,398, filed on Jul. 17, 2012, and incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to attenuated viral vaccines, particularly those providing broad, safe, and effective protection to porcines against infections/disease caused by swine influenza. The invention further relates to methods of producing the attenuated viruses, and to the identification of nucleic acid variations that are associated with decreased virulence of the attenuated virus.

The invention accordingly relates to immunogenic or vaccine compositions comprising the viruses of the invention; e.g., live attenuated virus. The viruses also could be inactivated in the compositions; but it may be advantageous that the viruses are live attenuated swine influenza. The invention therefore further relates to methods for preparing and/or formulating such compositions; e.g., culturing or growing or propagating the viruses on or in suitable medium, harvesting the viruses, optionally inactivating the viruses, and optionally admixing with a suitable veterinarily or pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, excipient, diluent or vehicle and/or an adjuvant and/or stabilizer. Thus, the invention also relates to the use of the viruses in formulating such compositions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Influenza viruses possess a number of mechanisms to elude host humoral immunity against hemagglutinin (HA) that mediates viral entry. Reassortment of genome segments can lead to antigenic shift while gradual accumulation of mutations leads to genetic drift (Desselberger U, et al. 1978, Schild G, et al. 1974). In addition to mutations in the antigenic epitopes of the HA that can impact the ability of pre-existing antibodies to recognize mutant HA, mutations in N-linked glycosylation of HA can promote viral evasion of antibody recognition by altering the oligosaccharide layer surrounding the HA (Schulze I T, 1997). Glycan residues can restrict the binding of some antibodies to their epitopes, leading to loss of antibody recognition and immunogenicity in a phenomenon known as glycan shielding (Wanzeck K, et al. 2011, Wei C-J, et al. 2010). Additionally, mutation and genetic drift preferentially occur at positions in the HA globular head that are not protected by glycans (Das S R, et al. 2010). Glycan residues also influence receptor binding and consequently can affect viral replication kinetics.

The evolution of influenza viruses frequently includes modification of the number and position of glycosylation sites (Long J, et al. 2011). For H3N2 viruses, the number of glycosylation sites has increased from two to ten over the last 40 years (4). However, increasingly glycosylated HA has been correlated with decreased virulence in mice and reduced viral fitness (Das S R, et al. 2011, Vigerust D J, et al. 2007). While increasing glycosylation can shield HA from neutralizing antibodies, the viral affinity for cellular receptors is obligatorily decreased (Abe Y, et al. 2004, Das S R, et al. 2011). Also, compensatory mutations in either the HA or neuraminidase (NA) are required to balance receptor binding and release activities (Wagner R, et al. 2000). These compensatory mutations in NA have been associated with the acquisition of natural resistance to NA inhibitors (Hensley S E, et al. 2011).

Numerous genetic and antigenically distinct lineages of swine influenza virus circulate concurrently in pigs, including β, γ and δ-cluster H1N1 and H1N2 viruses, as well as the H3N2 subtype (Lorusso A, et al. 2012). The δ-cluster was originally subdivided into two subclusters (δ-I and δ-II), however, more recent work demonstrated five distinct genetic subclusters (δ-A, δ-B, δ-C, δ-D, δ-E) representing at least three antigenically distinct groups (Hause B M, et al. 2011, Vincent A L, et al. 2009).

While killed viral vaccines are efficacious when the vaccine strains match the field challenge virus, the rapid mutation rate of influenza requires frequent strain changes to ensure genetic and antigenic match between the vaccine strains and circulating viruses. Additionally, the multiple subtypes and lineages co-circulating in swine frequently require five or more vaccine strains in order to include representatives of each type. A single live vaccine that elicits broad spectrum immunity offer a significant advance in swine health programs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of this invention is to provide attenuated vaccines as well as methods for treatment and prophylaxis of infection by swine influenza.

In an embodiment, the vaccines comprise attenuated influenza viruses, which have been modified to express HA genes having additional glycosylation sites relative to their parental strain.

In a particular embodiment, the HA genes and/or gene products have the same modifications as are present between SEQ ID NOs:17 and 21; SEQ ID NOs:17 and 23; SEQ ID NOs:18 and 22; or SEQ ID NOs:18 and 24. In yet another embodiment, the HA genes and/or gene products have at least 1 out of the 5 modifications. In a more particular embodiment, the HA genes and/or gene products have 4 or 5 of the modifications, results in +4 and +5 glycosylation sites, relative to the parent HA gene products.

Another object of this invention is to provide cDNA and/or plasmids for use in a reverse genetics system for producing attenuated influenza according to the instant disclosure. In an embodiment, at least one of the cDNA and/or plasmids comprises a HA sequence having increased number of glycosylation sites relative to the sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:18.

In a particular embodiment, the HA sequence is as set forth in SEQ ID NOs:21 or 23.

The present invention further relates to new attenuated strains of Influenza, which provide safe, effective, and broad protective immunity. Relative to a parent Influenza strain, the attenuated strains may have additional glycosylation sites and/or putative glycosylation sites encoded by their HA genes, whose presence is associated with reduced virulence.

Thus, the invention provides a mutant virus comprising a mutation(s) in one or more nucleic acids sequences, relative to the wild type/parental virus, which renders the mutant virus attenuated, relative to the parent virus, which parent virus comprises nucleic acids encoding a wild type HA protein. As defined herein, the “wild type” HA protein is one having the same number of glycosylation sites and/or putative glycosylation sites relative to the sequences as set forth in SEQ ID NO:18.

In a particular embodiment, the mutant virus comprises vRNA nucleic acid sequences which correspond to (i.e. are reverse complementary and have uracils in place of thymidines) the DNA sequences set forth in SEQ ID NOs:21 or 23, which encode for peptides as set forth in SEQ ID NOs:22 or 24, respectively, and which cause the mutant virus to be attenuated/non-virulent, relative to the virulent wild type/parental virus.

As defined herein, the term “gene” will be used in a broad sense, and shall encompass both coding and non-coding sequences (i.e. upstream and downstream regulatory sequences, promoters, 5′/3′ UTR, introns, and exons). Where reference to only a gene's coding sequence is intended, the term “gene's coding sequence” or “CDS” will be used interchangeably throughout this disclosure. When a specific nucleic acid is discussed, for example, the sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:17 (the DNA sequence equivalent of parental virus cRNA “sense” strand), the skilled person will instantly be in possession of all derivable forms of that sequence (mRNA, vRNA, cRNA, DNA, protein, etc.). For example, the influenza virus is a negative single strand RNA virus (ssRNA). To replicate, its negative ssRNA (defined herein as “vRNA”) must be transcribed to positive or sense RNA (defined herein as “cRNA”). Host cell machinery is co-opted to use the cRNA to produce the viral proteins and vRNA. A skilled person using the well-known genetic code can routinely derive from a DNA sequence the vRNA, cRNA, and peptide sequences.

In a particular embodiment, the attenuated vaccines comprise an adjuvant. The adjuvant may be any substance which increases and/or augments the elicited immune response, as compared to attenuated vaccine alone. Mucosal adjuvants, including chitosans and derivatives thereof, are particularly useful for the disclosed oral attenuated vaccines.

The invention further provides methods for inducing an immunological (or immunogenic) or protective response against Influenza, as well as methods for preventing or treating Influenza, or disease state(s) caused by Influenza, comprising administering the attenuated virus, or a composition comprising the attenuated virus to animals in need thereof.

Kits comprising at least the attenuated Influenza strain and instructions for use are also provided.

These and other embodiments are disclosed or are obvious from and encompassed by, the following Detailed Description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth more particularly in the remainder of the specification, including reference to the accompanying figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 presents the genotype of viruses created using reverse genetics;

FIG. 2 is an amino acid alignment between SEQ ID NO:18 (HA protein of parent influenza virus) and SEQ ID NO:22 (HA protein of n+5 glycosylation mutant);

FIG. 3 is a graph of the growth in cultured cells of parent and glycosylation mutant influenza viruses harboring between 1 and 5 additional glycosylation sites in their HA gene, relative to parent;

FIG. 4 is a table listing the SEQ ID of this disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides nucleotide sequences and genes involved in the attenuation of a microorganism, such as virus, for instance, Influenza, products (e.g., proteins, antigens, immunogens, epitopes) encoded by the nucleotide sequences, methods for producing such nucleotide sequences, products, micro-organisms, and uses therefore, such as for preparing vaccine or immunogenic compositions or for eliciting an immunological or immune response or as a vector, e.g., as an expression vector (for instance, an in vitro or in vivo expression vector).

Mutations introduced into nucleotide sequences and genes of micro-organisms produce novel and nonobvious attenuated mutants. These mutants are useful for the production of live attenuated immunogenic compositions or live attenuated vaccines having a high degree of immunogenicity.

Identification of the mutations provides novel and nonobvious nucleotide sequences and genes, as well as novel and nonobvious gene products encoded by the nucleotide sequences and genes.

In an embodiment, the invention provides an attenuated hyperglycosylated swine influenza strain capable of providing a safe and effective immune response in porcine against influenza or diseases caused by influenza. In one embodiment, the strain may encode an HA gene having at least 1 additional glycosylation site relative to virulent parental strain.

In another embodiment, the attenuated strain may encode an HA gene having 4 or 5 additional glycosylation sites relative to virulent parental strain. In a particular embodiment, the strain glycosylation sites are selected from S71N, K90N, L173T, P287T, and K294T, with the locations of the Amino Acid changes being based upon an HA gene having the sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:18.

In one embodiment, the HA protein produced by the attenuated influenza strain has the sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:22 or a sequence with at least 90% homology to SEQ ID NO:22 provided the following locations have the following amino acids: 71N, 90N, 173T, 287T, and 294T.

In another embodiment, the attenuated influenza produces an HA protein having the sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:24 or a sequence with at least 90% homology to SEQ IN NO:24 provided the following locations have the following amino acids: 71N, 90N, 173T, 287T.

In another aspect, the invention provides immunological composition comprising attenuated influenza strains, which encode hyperglycosylated HA proteins. In one embodiment, the compositions may further comprise a pharmaceutically or veterinary acceptable vehicle, diluent or excipient.

In an embodiment, the composition provides a protective immune response in porcine against virulent swine influenza challenge. In some embodiments, the composition further comprises at least one additional antigen associated with a pathogen other than swine influenza.

In another embodiment, the at least one additional antigen is selected from M. hyo, PCV2, PRRSV, SIV or other pathogen capable of infecting and causing illness or susceptibility to illness in a porcine, or combinations thereof.

In an embodiment, the invention provides methods of vaccinating an animal comprising at least one administration of the compositions comprising sequences encoding hyperglycosylated influenza HA proteins. In another embodiment, the porcine is a sow from about 3 weeks to about 6 weeks prefarrowing. In yet another embodiment, the resulting piglets may have a reduced morbidity and/or mortality as compared to piglets coming from unvaccinated sows.

In another embodiment, the invention provides a composition comprising a plurality of vectors for production of attenuated swine influenza including a vector comprising a promoter operably linked to an influenza virus HA cDNA, wherein the HA cDNA encodes additional glycosylation sites relative to an HA encoded by a virulent parent swine influenza strain. In one particular embodiment, the additional glycosylation sites are selected from S71N, K90N, L173T, P287T, and K294T, and the location of the Amino Acid changes is based upon an HA gene having the sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:18.

In an embodiment, the HA cDNA for producing attenuated influenza encodes the protein as set forth in SEQ ID NO:22. In another embodiment, HA cDNA encodes the protein as set forth in SEQ ID NO:24.

In an embodiment, the invention provides a method to prepare influenza virus, comprising: contacting a cell with one of the inventive compositions in an amount effective to yield infectious influenza virus. In one embodiment, the method further comprises isolating the virus.

In another embodiment, the invention provides a method to prepare a gene delivery vehicle, comprising: contacting cells with the inventive composition in an amount effective to yield influenza virus, and isolating the virus. The invention further provides a cell contacted with the inventive composition.

In an embodiment, the invention provides a vertebrate cell comprising a plurality of vectors for production of attenuated swine influenza including a vector comprising a promoter operably linked to an influenza virus HA cDNA, wherein the HA cDNA encodes additional glycosylation sites relative to an HA encoded by a virulent parent swine influenza strain.

The invention further encompasses gene products, which provide antigens, immunogens and epitopes, and are useful as isolated gene products.

Such isolated gene products, as well as epitopes thereof, are also useful for generating antibodies, which are useful in diagnostic applications.

Such gene products, which can provide or generate epitopes, antigens or immunogens, are also useful for immunogenic or immunological compositions, as well as vaccines.

In an aspect, the invention provides viruses containing an attenuating mutation in a nucleotide sequence or a gene wherein the mutation modifies the biological activity of a polypeptide or protein encoded by a gene, resulting in attenuated virulence of the virus.

In particular, the present invention encompasses attenuated swine influenza strains and vaccines comprising the same, which elicit an immunogenic response in an animal, particularly the attenuated swine influenza strains that elicit, induce or stimulate a response in a porcine.

Particular swine influenza attenuated strains of interest have mutations in genes, relative to wild type virulent parent strain, which are associated with virulence. It is recognized that, in addition to strains having the disclosed mutations, attenuated strains having any number of mutations in the disclosed virulence genes can be used in the practice of this invention.

In another aspect, the novel attenuated swine influenza strains are formulated into safe, effective vaccine against swine influenza and infections/diseases cause by swine influenza.

In an embodiment, the swine influenza vaccines further comprise an adjuvant. In a particular embodiment, the adjuvant is a mucosal adjuvant, such as chitosan, methylated chitosan, trimethylated chitosan, or derivatives or combinations thereof.

In an embodiment, the adjuvant comprises whole bacteria and/or viruses, including H. parasuis, clostridium, swine influenza virus (SIV), porcine circovirus (PCV), porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), Mannheimia, Pasteurella, Histophious, Salmonella, Escherichia coli, or combinations and/or variations thereof. In several embodiments, the adjuvant increases the animal's production of IgM, IgG, IgA, and/or combinations thereof.

By “antigen” or “immunogen” means a substance that induces a specific immune response in a host animal. The antigen may comprise a whole organism, killed, attenuated or live; a subunit or portion of an organism; a recombinant vector containing an insert with immunogenic properties; a piece or fragment of DNA capable of inducing an immune response upon presentation to a host animal; a polypeptide, an epitope, a hapten, or any combination thereof. Alternately, the immunogen or antigen may comprise a toxin or antitoxin.

The terms “protein”, “peptide”, “polypeptide” and “polypeptide fragment” are used interchangeably herein to refer to polymers of amino acid residues of any length. The polymer can be linear or branched, it may comprise modified amino acids or amino acid analogs, and it may be interrupted by chemical moieties other than amino acids. The terms also encompass an amino acid polymer that has been modified naturally or by intervention; for example disulfide bond formation, glycosylation, lipidation, acetylation, phosphorylation, or any other manipulation or modification, such as conjugation with a labeling or bioactive component.

The term “immunogenic or antigenic polypeptide” as used herein includes polypeptides that are immunologically active in the sense that once administered to the host, it is able to evoke an immune response of the humoral and/or cellular type directed against the protein. Preferably the protein fragment is such that it has substantially the same immunological activity as the total protein. Thus, a protein fragment according to the invention comprises or consists essentially of or consists of at least one epitope or antigenic determinant. An “immunogenic” protein or polypeptide, as used herein, includes the full-length sequence of the protein, analogs thereof, or immunogenic fragments thereof. By “immunogenic fragment” is meant a fragment of a protein which includes one or more epitopes and thus elicits the immunological response described above. Such fragments can be identified using any number of epitope mapping techniques, well known in the art. See, e.g., Epitope Mapping Protocols in Methods in Molecular Biology, Vol. 66 (Glenn E. Morris, Ed., 1996). For example, linear epitopes may be determined by e.g., concurrently synthesizing large numbers of peptides on solid supports, the peptides corresponding to portions of the protein molecule, and reacting the peptides with antibodies while the peptides are still attached to the supports. Such techniques are known in the art and described in, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,708,871; Geysen et al., 1984; Geysen et al., 1986. Similarly, conformational epitopes are readily identified by determining spatial conformation of amino acids such as by, e.g., x-ray crystallography and 2-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance. See, e.g., Epitope Mapping Protocols, supra. Methods especially applicable to the proteins of T. parva are fully described in PCT/US2004/022605 incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

As discussed herein, the invention encompasses active fragments and variants of the antigenic polypeptide. Thus, the term “immunogenic or antigenic polypeptide” further contemplates deletions, additions and substitutions to the sequence, so long as the polypeptide functions to produce an immunological response as defined herein. The term “conservative variation” denotes the replacement of an amino acid residue by another biologically similar residue, or the replacement of a nucleotide in a nucleic acid sequence such that the encoded amino acid residue does not change or is another biologically similar residue. In this regard, particularly preferred substitutions will generally be conservative in nature, i.e., those substitutions that take place within a family of amino acids. For example, amino acids are generally divided into four families: (1) acidic—aspartate and glutamate; (2) basic—lysine, arginine, histidine; (3) non-polar—alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, proline, phenylalanine, methionine, tryptophan; and (4) uncharged polar—glycine, asparagine, glutamine, cystine, serine, threonine, tyrosine. Phenylalanine, tryptophan, and tyrosine are sometimes classified as aromatic amino acids. Examples of conservative variations include the substitution of one hydrophobic residue such as isoleucine, valine, leucine or methionine for another hydrophobic residue, or the substitution of one polar residue for another polar residue, such as the substitution of arginine for lysine, glutamic acid for aspartic acid, or glutamine for asparagine, and the like; or a similar conservative replacement of an amino acid with a structurally related amino acid that will not have a major effect on the biological activity. Proteins having substantially the same amino acid sequence as the reference molecule but possessing minor amino acid substitutions that do not substantially affect the immunogenicity of the protein are, therefore, within the definition of the reference polypeptide. All of the polypeptides produced by these modifications are included herein. The term “conservative variation” also includes the use of a substituted amino acid in place of an unsubstituted parent amino acid provided that antibodies raised to the substituted polypeptide also immunoreact with the unsubstituted polypeptide.

The term “epitope” refers to the site on an antigen or hapten to which specific B cells and/or T cells respond. The term is also used interchangeably with “antigenic determinant” or “antigenic determinant site”. Antibodies that recognize the same epitope can be identified in a simple immunoassay showing the ability of one antibody to block the binding of another antibody to a target antigen.

An “immunological response” to a composition or vaccine is the development in the host of a cellular and/or antibody-mediated immune response to a composition or vaccine of interest. Usually, an “immunological response” includes but is not limited to one or more of the following effects: the production of antibodies, B cells, helper T cells, and/or cytotoxic T cells, directed specifically to an antigen or antigens included in the composition or vaccine of interest. Preferably, the host will display either a therapeutic or protective immunological response such that resistance to new infection will be enhanced and/or the clinical severity of the disease reduced. Such protection will be demonstrated by either a reduction or lack of symptoms and/or clinical disease signs normally displayed by an infected host, a quicker recovery time and/or a lowered viral titer in the infected host.

By “animal” is intended mammals, birds, and the like. Animal or host as used herein includes mammals and human. The animal may be selected from the group consisting of equine (e.g., horse), canine (e.g., dogs, wolves, foxes, coyotes, jackals), feline (e.g., lions, tigers, domestic cats, wild cats, other big cats, and other felines including cheetahs and lynx), ovine (e.g., sheep), bovine (e.g., cattle), porcine (e.g., pig), avian (e.g., chicken, duck, goose, turkey, quail, pheasant, parrot, finches, hawk, crow, ostrich, emu and cassowary), primate (e.g., prosimian, tarsier, monkey, gibbon, ape), ferrets, seals, and fish. The term “animal” also includes an individual animal in all stages of development, including newborn, embryonic and fetal stages.

Unless otherwise explained, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. The singular terms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless context clearly indicates otherwise. Similarly, the word “or” is intended to include “and” unless the context clearly indicate otherwise.

It is noted that in this disclosure and particularly in the claims and/or paragraphs, terms such as “comprises”, “comprised”, “comprising” and the like can have the meaning attributed to it in U.S. Patent law; e.g., they can mean “includes”, “included”, “including”, and the like; and that terms such as “consisting essentially of” and “consists essentially of” have the meaning ascribed to them in U.S. Patent law, e.g., they allow for elements not explicitly recited, but exclude elements that are found in the prior art or that affect a basic or novel characteristic of the invention.

Compositions

The present invention relates to a swine influenza vaccine or composition which may comprise an attenuated swine influenza strain and a pharmaceutically or veterinarily acceptable carrier, excipient, or vehicle, which elicits, induces or stimulates a response in an animal.

The term “nucleic acid” and “polynucleotide” refers to RNA or DNA that is linear or branched, single or double stranded, or a hybrid thereof. The term also encompasses RNA/DNA hybrids. The following are non-limiting examples of polynucleotides: a gene or gene fragment, exons, introns, mRNA, tRNA, rRNA, ribozymes, cDNA, recombinant polynucleotides, branched polynucleotides, plasmids, vectors, isolated DNA of any sequence, isolated RNA of any sequence, nucleic acid probes and primers. A polynucleotide may comprise modified nucleotides, such as methylated nucleotides and nucleotide analogs, uracyl, other sugars and linking groups such as fluororibose and thiolate, and nucleotide branches. The sequence of nucleotides may be further modified after polymerization, such as by conjugation, with a labeling component. Other types of modifications included in this definition are caps, substitution of one or more of the naturally occurring nucleotides with an analog, and introduction of means for attaching the polynucleotide to proteins, metal ions, labeling components, other polynucleotides or solid support. The polynucleotides can be obtained by chemical synthesis or derived from a microorganism.

The term “gene” is used broadly to refer to any segment of polynucleotide associated with a biological function. Thus, genes include introns and exons as in genomic sequence, or just the coding sequences as in cDNAs and/or the regulatory sequences required for their expression. For example, gene also refers to a nucleic acid fragment that expresses mRNA or functional RNA, or encodes a specific protein, and which includes regulatory sequences.

An “isolated” biological component (such as a nucleic acid or protein or organelle) refers to a component that has been substantially separated or purified away from other biological components in the cell of the organism in which the component naturally occurs, for instance, other chromosomal and extra-chromosomal DNA and RNA, proteins, and organelles. Nucleic acids and proteins that have been “isolated” include nucleic acids and proteins purified by standard purification methods. The term also embraces nucleic acids and proteins prepared by recombinant technology as well as chemical synthesis.

The term “conservative variation” denotes the replacement of an amino acid residue by another biologically similar residue, or the replacement of a nucleotide in a nucleic acid sequence such that the encoded amino acid residue does not change or is another biologically similar residue. In this regard, particularly preferred substitutions will generally be conservative in nature, as described above.

The term “recombinant” means a polynucleotide with semisynthetic, or synthetic origin which either does not occur in nature or is linked to another polynucleotide in an arrangement not found in nature.

“Heterologous” means derived from a genetically distinct entity from the rest of the entity to which it is being compared. For example, a polynucleotide may be placed by genetic engineering techniques into a plasmid or vector derived from a different source, and is a heterologous polynucleotide. A promoter removed from its native coding sequence and operatively linked to a coding sequence other than the native sequence is a heterologous promoter.

The polynucleotides of the invention may comprise additional sequences, such as additional encoding sequences within the same transcription unit, controlling elements such as promoters, ribosome binding sites, 5′UTR, 3′UTR, transcription terminators, polyadenylation sites, additional transcription units under control of the same or a different promoter, sequences that permit cloning, expression, homologous recombination, and transformation of a host cell, and any such construct as may be desirable to provide embodiments of this invention.

Methods of use and Article of Manufacture

The present invention includes the following method embodiments. In an embodiment, a method of vaccinating an animal comprising administering a composition comprising an attenuated swine influenza strain and a pharmaceutical or veterinarily acceptable carrier, excipient, or vehicle to an animal is disclosed. In one aspect of this embodiment, the animal is a porcine.

In one embodiment of the invention, a prime-boost regimen can be employed, which is comprised of at least one primary administration and at least one booster administration using at least one common polypeptide, antigen, epitope or immunogen. Typically the immunological composition or vaccine used in primary administration is different in nature from those used as a booster. However, it is noted that the same composition can be used as the primary administration and the booster administration. This administration protocol is called “prime-boost”.

A prime-boost regimen comprises at least one prime-administration and at least one boost administration using at least one common polypeptide and/or variants or fragments thereof. The vaccine used in prime-administration may be different in nature from those used as a later booster vaccine. The prime-administration may comprise one or more administrations. Similarly, the boost administration may comprise one or more administrations.

The dose volume of compositions for target species that are mammals, e.g., the dose volume of pig or swine compositions, based on viral antigens, is generally between about 0.1 to about 2.0 ml, between about 0.1 to about 1.0 ml, and between about 0.5 ml to about 1.0 ml.

The efficacy of the vaccines may be tested about 2 to 4 weeks after the last immunization by challenging animals, such as porcine, with a virulent strain of swine influenza. Both homologous and heterologous strains are used for challenge to test the efficacy of the vaccine. The animal may be challenged by IM or SC injection, spray, intra-nasally, intra-ocularly, intra-tracheally, and/or orally. Samples from joints, lungs, brain, and/or mouth may be collected before and post-challenge and may be analyzed for the presence of swine influenza-specific antibody.

The compositions comprising the attenuated viral strains of the invention used in the prime-boost protocols are contained in a pharmaceutically or veterinary acceptable vehicle, diluent or excipient. The protocols of the invention protect the animal from swine influenza and/or prevent disease progression in an infected animal.

The various administrations are preferably carried out 1 to 6 weeks apart. Preferred time interval is 3 to 5 weeks, and optimally 4 weeks according to one embodiment, an annual booster is also envisioned. The animals, for example pigs, may be at least 3-4 weeks of age at the time of the first administration.

It should be understood by one of skill in the art that the disclosure herein is provided by way of example and the present invention is not limited thereto. From the disclosure herein and the knowledge in the art, the skilled artisan can determine the number of administrations, the administration route, and the doses to be used for each injection protocol, without any undue experimentation.

Another embodiment of the invention is a kit for performing a method of eliciting or inducing an immunological or protective response against swine influenza in an animal comprising an attenuated swine influenza immunological composition or vaccine and instructions for performing the method of delivery in an effective amount for eliciting an immune response in the animal.

Another embodiment of the invention is a kit for performing a method of inducing an immunological or protective response against swine influenza in an animal comprising a composition or vaccine comprising an attenuated swine influenza strain of the invention, and instructions for performing the method of delivery in an effective amount for eliciting an immune response in the animal.

Yet another aspect of the present invention relates to a kit for prime-boost vaccination according to the present invention as described above. The kit may comprise at least two vials: a first vial containing a vaccine or composition for the prime-vaccination according to the present invention, and a second vial containing a vaccine or composition for the boost-vaccination according to the present invention. The kit may advantageously contain additional first or second vials for additional prime-vaccinations or additional boost-vaccinations.

The pharmaceutically or veterinarily acceptable carriers or vehicles or excipients are well known to the one skilled in the art. For example, a pharmaceutically or veterinarily acceptable carrier or vehicle or excipient can be a 0.9% NaCl (e.g., saline) solution or a phosphate buffer. Other pharmaceutically or veterinarily acceptable carrier or vehicle or excipients that can be used for methods of this invention include, but are not limited to, poly-(L-glutamate) or polyvinylpyrrolidone. The pharmaceutically or veterinarily acceptable carrier or vehicle or excipients may be any compound or combination of compounds facilitating the administration of the vector (or protein expressed from an inventive vector in vitro); advantageously, the carrier, vehicle or excipient may facilitate transfection and/or improve preservation of the vector (or protein). Doses and dose volumes are herein discussed in the general description and can also be determined by the skilled artisan from this disclosure read in conjunction with the knowledge in the art, without any undue experimentation.

The immunological compositions and vaccines according to the invention may comprise or consist essentially of one or more adjuvants. Suitable adjuvants for use in the practice of the present invention are (1) polymers of acrylic or methacrylic acid, maleic anhydride and alkenyl derivative polymers, (2) immunostimulating sequences (ISS), such as oligodeoxyribonucleotide sequences having one or more non-methylated CpG units (Klinman et al., 1996; WO98/16247), (3) an oil in water emulsion, such as the SPT emulsion described on page 147 of “Vaccine Design, The Subunit and Adjuvant Approach” published by M. Powell, M. Newman, Plenum Press 1995, and the emulsion MF59 described on page 183 of the same work, (4) cationic lipids containing a quaternary ammonium salt, e.g., DDA (5) cytokines, (6) aluminum hydroxide or aluminum phosphate, (7) saponin or (8) other adjuvants discussed in any document cited and incorporated by reference into the instant application, or (9) any combinations or mixtures thereof.

In an embodiment, adjuvants include those which promote improved absorption through mucosal linings. Some examples include MPL, LTK63, toxins, PLG microparticles and several others (Vajdy, M. Immunology and Cell Biology (2004) 82, 617-627). In an embodiment, the adjuvant may be a chitosan (Van der Lubben et al. 2001; Patel et al. 2005; Majithiya et al. 2008; U.S. Pat. No. 5,980,912).

REFERENCES

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The invention will now be further described by way of the following non-limiting examples.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Construction of Hyperglycosylated Swine Influenza Viruses

Materials/Methods.

Clinical samples (nasal swabs or lung tissue) were collected from pigs exhibiting influenza-like illness and were submitted for viral isolation and characterization (routine diagnostic testing). Virus isolation was performed on swine testicle (ST) cells grown in DMEM containing 5% fetal bovine serum at 37° C. with 5% CO₂. For viral propagation, fetal bovine serum was omitted from the DMEM. 293T and MDCK cells were propagated in DMEM containing 10% fetal bovine serum. RNA was harvested from infected cell culture harvest fluids using the 5× MagMax-96 Viral Isolation Kit (Life Technologies).

Complete viral genomes were amplified using a previously described multisegment reverse transcription PCR method (Zhou B, et al. 2009). Viral cDNA libraries were prepared using the NEBNext Fast DNA Fragmentation and Library Prep Set 4 kit according to the manufacturer's instructions (New England Biolabs) with the exception that the kit adaptors were replaced with barcoded adaptors (Ion Xpress Barcode Adaptor 1-16 Kit, Life Technologies). DNA sequencing templates were prepared using the Ion Xpress Template Kit version 2.0 (Life Technologies) and sequenced using an Ion Torrent Personal Genome Machine (Life Technologies). Contigs were assembled using SeqMan NGen software (DNAStar). Contigs encoding full length HA were identified by BLAST analysis. Full length HA DNA sequences were aligned using the ClustalW method. Phylogenetic analyses were performed using MEGA 5.0 using the neighbor joining method and tree topology was verified with 1000 bootstrap replicates (Tamura K, et al. 2011). HA gene sequences were deposited to Genbank under accession numbers JQ638655-JQ638665.

Reverse Genetics. In the context of molecular biology, “reverse genetics” is defined as the generation of virus possessing a genome derived from cloned cDNAs (for a review, see Neumann et al., J. Gen. Viral., 83:2635; 2002). In the instant study, a triple reassortant internal gene cassette (TRIG) swine influenza virus (A/swine/North Carolina/3793/08(H1N1)) was used as the template to create a TRIG swine influenza virus reverse genetics system. All eight segments were PCR amplified, digested with BsmBI and ligated into a similarly digested pHW2000 as previously described (Hoffmann E, et al. 2001). Plasmids bearing insert were identified by restriction digest and sequenced to verify identity with A/swine/North Carolina/3793/08. The HA and NA genes (SEQ ID NOs:7 & 11) from 10-0036-2 were also cloned into pHW2000 (Hoffmann et al 2000, PNAS 97(11):6108-6113) and transfected along with plasmids bearing polymerase basic 2 (PB2), polymerase basic 1 (PB1), polymerase acid (PA), nucleoprotein (NP), matrix (M) and non-structural genes (NS) derived from A/swine/North Carolina/3793/08 to produce reverse genetics-derived 10-0036-2 (RG 10-0036-2, FIG. 1). Site directed mutagenesis was performed on the plasmid containing HA gene from 10-0036-2 to create mutants with an additional 1-5 N-linked glycosylation sites using the Quik Change II Site Directed Mutagenesis kit (Agilent Technologies) (Table 1, FIG. 2). Glycans are added to proteins at asparagine (N) residues located in the context of the N-linked glycosylation motif of N-X-S/T, where N is the amino acid asparagine, X is any amino acid and S/T is serine or threonine.

TABLE 1 Additional N-linked glycosylation sites engineered into the HA gene of RG10-0036-2 using site directed mutagenesis Number additional N-linked glycosylation sites Nucleotide Change Amino Acid Change 1 G212A S71N 2 G212A, G270T S71N, K90N 3 G212A, G270T, CT517- S71N, K90N, L173T 518AC 4 G212A, G270T, CT517- S71N, K90N, L173T, 518AC, C859A P287T 5 G212A, G270T, CT517- S71N, K90N, L173T, 518AC, C859A, A881C P287T, K294T

Rescue of recombinant viruses was performed as previously described (Hoffmann E, et al. 2000). In brief, 293T and MDCK cells were co-cultured in Opti-MEM I containing 5% FBS in 6-well plates approximately 1×10⁶ cells of each 293T and MDCK approximately 18 hours prior to transfection. One hundred nanograms of each of the eight plasmids were pooled in 100 μL of Opti-MEM I and combined with 100 μL Opti-MEM containing 3 μL Lipofectamine (Invitrogen) and incubated at room temperature 15 minutes before being diluted to 1 mL with Opti-MEM I and transferred to a single well of the 6-well plate. Plates were incubated at 37° C. with 5% CO₂ for 6 hours before the transfection mixture was replaced with Opti-MEM I. At 24 hours post transfection, 1.5 mL was transferred to a 6-well plate of confluent MDCK cells and 1.5 mL of DMEM containing 1 μg/mL of TPCK-treated trypsin was added. Viruses were harvested on day 5 post infection and their titers determined by the HA assay. The HA genes of rescued viruses were sequenced to verify the correct sequence.

Results. Genetic analysis of predicted N-linked glycosylation sites (N-X-S/T) found sites at N28, N40, N104, N142, N176, N303, N497 and N556 for virus 10-0036-2. Site directed mutagenesis was used to add an additional 1-5 N-linked glycosylation sites to the globular head portion of HA (Table 1). Following virus rescue from cell culture, mutant viruses were characterized by growth studies on ST cells. Growth studies were performed as attenuated viruses often demonstrate decreased growth rates and titers in vitro. Mutant viruses with 4 or 5 additional N-linked glycosylation sites showed such growth defects, suggesting that additional glycosylation attenuated the viruses. The attenuated viruses were next evaluated in swine to evaluate their virulence in vivo and characterize the immune response against these mutant viruses.

Example 2 Efficacy of Attenuated Swine Influenza Vaccines in Pigs

Materials & Methods. Sixty 3-week old high health pigs (confirmed SIV seronegative by IDEXX FlockChek ELISA) were separated into 4 groups of 15 in separate rooms. On day 0 (d0), pigs were inoculated intranasally with 2 mL of 6.0 TCID₅₀/mL virus. Group 1 was mock infected with cell culture media (DMEM). Group 2 received 10-0036-2 n+5. Group 3 received 10-0036-2 n+4 (a mutant with 4 additional glycosylation sites; similar to n+5 but lacking the mutation A881C [K2941]). Group 4 received reverse genetics created 10-0036-2 parent (no mutations). Pigs were swabbed (nasal) at day 0 and samples were run by QPCR for SIV detection to verify no active infection. Results are summarized in Table 2. For Tables 2 and 3, groups with different letters have statistically different means (P<0.05). For example, “A” is statistically different from “B”, and “BC” is statistically different from “A” but not “B” or “C”.

TABLE 2 Vaccination study Nasal Swab, Lung Titer, Nasal Swab, Day 5 Day 5 Vaccination Day 3 (TCID₅₀/ (TCID₅₀/ Lung IHC (H1N2) (TCID₅₀/mL) mL) mL) Score Score Neg. Con 0.0 A 0.0 A 0.0 A 0.0 A 0.0 A n + 4 mutant 3.1 B 2.8 B 0.9 A 0.0 A 0.0 A n + 5 mutant 2.6 C 2.7 B 0.4 A 0.2 A 0.2 A parent 4.1 D 3.2 C 5.4 B 1.5 B 2.0 B

Nasal swabs collected on days 1, 3 and 5. Five pigs from each group were euthanized at day 5 and lung samples were collected. Swabs from day 1 were analyzed by QPCR. Swabs from days 3 and 5 as well as lung samples were titrated for SIV. Lungs were sent to a University Diagnostic lab for histopathological analysis and IHC. On day 21 pigs were revaccinated as above. These results demonstrate the mutants containing 4 or 5 additionally N-linked glycosylation sites are attenuated and avirulent in swine, in agreement with the in vitro growth studies. Nasal swab titrations indicated that the virus was capable of replicating in vivo, however, absence of virus in lungs and lack of lung damage suggest replication limited to the upper respiratory tract. Mutations in other influenza genes that confer temperature sensitivity have been shown to limit infection to the upper respiratory tract and are the basis of the human live attenuated influenza vaccine FluMist™.

On day 31, pigs were challenged with a field isolate 12-1110-1 (H3N2). The results of the challenge study are summarized in Table 3. For the challenge (performed comparably to Richt et al 2006, J. Virology 80(22):11009-11018) 2mL of 4.6 TCID50/mL was delivered intranasally. Blood and nasal swabs were collected on day 31 prior to challenge. Nasal swabs were collected on days 0 and 1, and analyzed by QPCR. Nasal swabs were collected on days 3 and 5 and SIV titer determined by titration. All pigs were euthanized on day 5 and lung samples analyzed by titration. Lung samples analyzed as above.

TABLE 3 Challenge study Nasal Swab, Lung Titer, Nasal Swab, Day 5 Day 5 H3N2 Day 3 (TCID₅₀/ (TCID₅₀/ Lung IHC Challenge (TCID₅₀/mL) mL) mL) Score Score Neg. Con 5.4 A 5.8 A 3.0 A 1.6 A 1.5 A n + 4 mutant 2.3 B 0.7 B 0.0 B 0.0 B 0.0 B n + 5 mutant   2.9 BC 1.8 C 0.1 B 0.0 B 0.0 B parent 0.5 C   0.9 BC 0.0 B 0.0 B 0.0 B These results demonstrate that pigs vaccinated with mutants n+4 or n+5 were protected from disease as evident by lack of virus in lungs by titration and IHC, as well as no evidence of lung lesions. Naïve (negative control) pigs were readily infected with the H3N2 challenge virus and demonstrated classical influenza disease. Pigs previously infected with the parent virus 10-0036-2 were also protected from the H3N2 challenge.

Having thus described in detail preferred embodiments of the present invention, it is to be understood that the invention defined by the above paragraphs is not to be limited to particular details set forth in the above description as many apparent variations thereof are possible without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An attenuated swine influenza strain capable of providing a safe and effective immune response in a porcine animal against a virulent H3N2 swine influenza or diseases caused by H3N2 swine influenza; wherein the attenuated strain encodes an HA protein having five additional glycosylation sites, relative to its corresponding virulent parental strain; wherein the virulent parental strain encodes an HA protein having the polypeptide sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 18; and wherein the five glycosylation sites are S71N, K90N, L173T, P287T, and K294T.
 2. An immunological composition comprising the strain of claim
 1. 3. The attenuated strain of claim 1, containing an HA gene encoding an HA protein having the polypeptide sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:
 22. 4. An immunological composition comprising the strain of claim
 2. 5. The attenuated strain of claim 1, encoding an HA protein having only five additional glycosylation sites, relative to its corresponding virulent parental strain.
 6. An immunological composition comprising the strain of claim
 5. 7. The composition of claim 6, further comprising a pharmaceutically or veterinary acceptable vehicle, diluent or excipient, and which provides a protective immune response in a porcine animal against a virulent H3N2 swine influenza challenge.
 8. The composition of claim 7, further comprising at least one additional antigen associated with or derived from a porcine pathogen other than H3N2 swine influenza.
 9. The composition of claim 8, wherein the at least one or more additional antigen(s) is capable of eliciting in a porcine animal an immune response against Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (M. hyo), porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2), porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) or other pathogen capable of infecting and causing illness or susceptibility to illness in a porcine.
 10. A method of vaccinating a porcine animal in need of protection against H3N2 swine influenza, comprising administering to said porcine animal the composition of claim 6, thereby vaccinating the animal.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the porcine animal is a sow from about 3 weeks to about 6 weeks prefarrowing.
 12. The method of 11, wherein the resulting piglets have a reduced morbidity and/or mortality as compared to piglets coming from unvaccinated sows. 